On to Iowa
Posted on November 16th, 2008 – 4:10 PMBy Kent Youngblood
Greetings.
Well, judging from the responses I see on the bottom of my blog from last night a good number of you folks think I’ve taken to drinking the Gophers Koolaid.
Well, you’re entitled to your opinions. But I stand by my reaction to last night’s game. Was it tough on the Gophers? Yes. Was it tough on the fans? Apparently so. Was it a horrible, mistake-filled way to lose? No question. But I still say that I left Camp Randall Stadium more convinced of the Gophers future potential than at any other time this season. Let me explain why:
–The reason the Gophers lost? Freshman mistakes. Fumbles by two freshmen running backs and by a freshman kick returner. Saturday there were four seniors among the 22 Gophers starters. On offense eight starters were underclassmen. This is a young team, and young teams make mistakes. But this is also a team that had lost two straight at home but came out very charged up in Wisconsin. That tells me the team has bought into the program. Now, take those kids, add another recruiting class that will also have MarQueis Gray, Spencer Reeves, Matt Carufel and Kim Royston.
–Without Eric Decker the Gophers were able to gain more than 300 yards and score 32 points. Brandon Green and Brodrick Smith showed signs of their ability; Green has played well now for three consecutive weeks. That bodes well for the future.
–The offensive line improved by a degree. Now, the Badgers didn’t blitz at all until the second half, and it had an impact when they did. But the OL has struggled all year, but improved against a pretty good Badgers defense.
Now, having said that, are there bones to pick? Yes.
The penalties have to stop, particularly the personal foul penalties. Willie VanDeSteeg talked about it after the game, how the Gophers have to show more discipline in certain situations. I agree. Here’s what I think is going on: Brewster and his staff came in and inherited a defense that didn’t play with confidence. Sometimes when you’re trying to instill an edge the players can take it over the line. A coaching issue? Absolutely. It has to be addressed and Brewster talked about that Sunday.
Does the offense have to be more consistent? Yes. Will that happen this season? That depends a lot on whether Eric Decker comes back healthy and whether the offensive line continues to improve. I think having played – and made some plays – without Decker will help the young receivers and Weber upon Decker’s return. Another sign from Saturday’s game: Shady Salamon’s stock is on the rise. He is a bit more hard-nosed than DeLeon Eskridge, and I think you’ll see a lot of Salamon both against Iowa and in the bowl game.
There. That’s how I feel. Now, if the Gophers come home and stink it up against Iowa, I retain the right to change my mind. But the Gophers went to Camp Randall, where the Badgers had beaten them by at least 18 points in six straight games, and played competitively.
152 Responses to "On to Iowa"
My experience of seeing every player on our good 2001 (?) D come back except one (Tyrone Carter) tells me the D next year will not be as effective this year. The same exact thing happened when Charles Woodson was a senior at Michigan. Everyone else was back and they were a poorer D. Unless we are hiding a great pass rushing D lineman, we will be less effective.
The coaches will need to find an O line by next year. Older is not better, better is better.
If, if Bennett comes back 100%, that will help. I hope Carufel is a top lineman, but the jury is out on that one. Gone are the days when a player who does not make it at ND, for whatever reasons, will be a star here. Long gone.
Until this brewster proves he can win big ten games I have given up on the Gophers and will sell my two tickets to some good friends who happen to be Iowa fans. This brewster has driven this program into the ground in less than two years and I will not go to another game until this brewster starts winning big ten games or this brewster is fired.
Driven the program into the ground?
No doubt, the last three weeks have been disappointing. But this team won one game last year - they’ve won seven this year. And this year’s freshman class has contributed much more than any freshman class in my memory.
I’m not ready to say these guys are going to win the Rose Bowl or the National Championship anytime soon. But anyone who says this program has been run into the ground simply hasn’t paid much attention this season.
The Renegade, do you remember 2006? In Mason’s last year we finished 6-7. If you want to focus on last year, I’ll concede that it was a very bad year but even if we had Mason here I think we would have struggled. We lost a 3 year starter at QB and replaced him with a redshirt freshman. When Mason turned over QB’s (Cupito from Abdul-Khaliq in 2004, and Abdul-Khaliq/Travis Cole from Cockerham in 2000) we struggled to find the same efficiency we had the year before. In fact 2004 was the only year we switched QB’s and went to a bowl but we still had Barber and Maroney at RB which made Cupito’s transition easier. Mason probably would have won more than 1 game last year because it is easier to transition just a freshman QB than an entire roster but I don’t think Mason would been .500 either. The defense would have still been pitiful and the returning RB, Amir Pinnix, was either injured or having trouble holding on to the ball.
If you want to talk about this year’s team as “driving the program in to the ground” I respectfully disagree. The team plays hard, causes turnovers, and this is the best Gophers D I have seen in years. We have been hit with injuries in key positions (RB, WR, o-line, and against Wisconsin MLB and FS)exposing our lack of depth. We are asking a very talented recruiting class to fill in the gaps but there are reasons that most Big Ten teams don’t rely on freshman to make plays. Green, Smith, Eskridge and Salamon-all true freshman-all made big plays on offense and if you have any faith in coaches they will improve in the offseason with weight training, more reps, and coaching. This is a team on the rise and that should hopefully show next year when we have 9 returning starters on defense and 10 on offense.
Gold says,
“I do think people are too quick to throw Mason’s recruits under the bus. A lot of next year’s upper classmen will be Mason recruits and will be a vital part of this team.”
_________
OK, gold … let’s go through the list:
Decker, All-American receiver; Weber, fighting to hold onto his job at QB next year; Kuznia, limited playing time next year; Jay Thomas, limited playing time next year; Bennett, hopefully back 100%; Sherels, will start again at corner; Campbell, darn good linebacker; Triplett, could be good; two Tow-Arnetts, both solid contributors; Burris and Tavale, maybe; Meinke, not bad; Alford, doubtful; Brown, good defensive tackle, Brody, will get playing time.
That’s it … about 10-12 guys who will really contribute. That is not many for the juniors and seniors left here by Mason. If you don’t end up with at least 15 in each of your upper classes who are real players, you have failed.
I have to agree with Kent. I was at the NW and Mich games, and with those ‘game pictures’ in mind, I couldn’t even bare to watch the Wisky game thinking about how bad it was going to be.
Low and behold, I was impressed with the game recap. The mistakes have killed us at time this year; but also big plays have had some great results as well.
In thinking back to NDSU, I didn’t think today would be possible. Another year - not guarenteed of course - with few departures (including keeping Roof)can only mean improvement (although losing WVD is huge).
Kent is on the money IMHO.
DAC–You missed Small who was a Sophomore Juco transfer under Mason and is fairly equivalent to Brown in performance this year.
I agree with you Kent! We are the youngest team in the Big Ten and we played very well in a very tough enviroment. We need to cut down the mistakes and penalties but this experience will show next year. We will start winning some of these close games. All you so called Gopher fans out there. Please don’t sell your tickets to those gold and black barnheads farm Iowa. Have some pride and actually go to the game. I am sick of going to these games and seeing 50-50 fan support.
I disagree dac. Here are Mason’s recruits.
O-line - 11 of our 12 O-linemen will be Mason recruits next year.
QB - Weber - next year he won’t be barely hanping on to his job. He’ll be the starter these next two years, and he’ll put up HUGE numbers in 09, 10.
WR - Ben, decker - Both starters
RB - Bennet
D-line - Small, Brown, Brody
LB - Campbell, Triplet, Uu
Secondary - Sherels, Collado
So wrong right Mase hardly gave us any good players. Your arguement is like Loon saying none of Brewsters recruits are contributing.
Kent,
I agree. This game shows the future is bright. Next year this team will be very good.
Guys forget who recruited who, who is better than who!!THEY ARE ALL NOW GOPHERS AND ARE COACHED BY TIM BREWSTER! Thats reality, lets go from here.
They are all,coaches and players, a work in progress, and they will have their ups and downs, if you can’t handle whats happening, don’t watch or listen or shoot off your mouths. If it is still happening 2 yrs from now, fire him, but until then, understand the progress because if you can’t see progress then you know nothing about football.
Until this brewster proves he can win big ten games there will always be 25-30 thousand pig fans in the damn dome. Next week I would imagine it will be closer to 35-40k pig fans in the damn dome and that is a BAD thing. This brewster needs to realize that this is not the MAC Conference, it is win or else heads will roll. Prexy B, do you have the guts (and the $$$) to make a change???
I forgot to add Tow as a player Mason recruited who will contribute at TE. Dac wether you like it or not, there are quite a few of Mason players who will contribute next year.
Wren,
Now is not the time to make the change. Things are looking up and Brewster does deserve another year to coach. I agree with Kent, this team could be very good next year.
My tickets to the ia game on EBAY. I can’t stomach “this brewster” either.
understand the progress because if you can’t see progress then you know nothing about football.
==============
ya, last year we lost to WI by 7, this year it was 3….big improvement. We also lost to NW and MI by MORE points this year than last year. Is this improvement???? By God we have been putting it to those mid majors and FCS teams though!!!!!!!
How foolish and easily fooled you brewster kool-aid people are. Haven’t you been witnessing the way people hijack monikers around here? I have been a season ticket holder for a LONG time. You think I would EVER sell my tickets?
You people are obviously part of the gopher hole mob scene that is attempting to bring chaos and crap to this web site.
One thing you can be assured of is that I will hold season tickets until the day I die. AND: I will contrast you kool aid drinkers and say what I think. I will never be intimidated by punks who think that by going trashy and low-rent they can do diddly to a person who has been through the wars the way I have.
Punks are punks and always have been punks. They will fall like flies when the going gets tough.
So, anyone who is playing along with them: buzz off dudes and dudettes. You are less than the lowest. Drink up. Take your alcohlic shows on the road. Crash and burn like kelly leeks.
You little hijackers of monikers are all alike. There is no substance and no staying power in your sleezy tactics.
The record is 3 Big Ten wins and 12 Big Ten losses. This brewster had better pick up the pace and learn how to do some coaching.
d-A_C-OFF: Weber will be the starter for the next two years. This Gray kid has a LOT to prove. Will he stay healthy? Can he take the hits? Can he cut the academics? Can he learn the system? I think you seriously consider making him a wide-out and see if he has the hands to make the catches, the wheels to seperate, the discipline to run the routes, the ability to block, and the love of the game to do what ever it takes to make his team better. Let him work on picking up the qb system over time. But, you are pretty foolish to think he will be pushing a two year starter at the qb position. Weber has been the ROCK for this team. He won’t be moving over and this Gray needs to show up and do a LOT of things to even climb in the contest. He has a history of injury. He will take a LOT of hits in this offense…IF he gets on the field at qb at all in the next two years. This team belongs to MR. Weber!
Kent,
I don’t think this wisky defense is such a great defense. The Gophers scored over 30 on them in 2007 and again yesterday. THAT is not very good defense.
Also, the odds of a Big Ten team finishing at 3-5 would not indicate a very good defense.
This brewster needs to ditch this dunbar!
And one more thing. I was at the game yesterday and there were so many drunk fans it is dispicable. I am sure I saw Kelly Leaks vomiting all over himself in the bathroom. Normally Dale was on his knees too as well as dudwell. If this brewster does not beat Iowa saturday there will be major changes…THAT is a fact. The lil ranger better be on guard. Big ten wins are important and this regime is doing a terrible job getting big ten wins. We need to start making people accountable. Contrast is a good thing, count on it.
mason’s first 2 years 8-15 overall 3-13 in conference. no bowl games.. brewster already ahead of mason’s pace.. Out of 10 years mason had 2 winning big ten records… So get over mason. 64-57 record. that includes all those good teams with nfl running backs.. Brewster already ahead of mason.. So know what you are talking about. mason was a .500 coach.. Gophers deserve and now are a better team.. I haven’t seen a good defense in 10 years.. So forget mason go with the future..
Apparently the oddsmakers do not share the giddiness of Beano Youngblood, as Iowa just opened as a 6 point favorite. Also, please lose the “just a freshman excuse!” We are going into the 12th game of the season Sat, and these lads have received over 5 months of coaching at a minimum from the greatest coach ever!!!
grunkey: You are responding to a couple of posts that I didn’t make. Some of your low-classed jerks over on gopher hole hijacked my moniker and made posts using my moniker. Do you realize that all you have to do on this site is type in what ever moniker you want to use and type in a bogus e-mail address and your hijacked moniker post will print out.
gunkru: Mason was fired for incompetence and what ever else. This brewster is certainly plenty incompetent and who knows what he will get this program into over the course of time. We don’t know yet. What we do know is that he is 8-15 overall and 3-12 in Big Ten play. He runs an offense that can not run the ball. He is trying to recruit athletes to run some offense that will never put enough of the right kind of athletes on the field at the same time to run a spread the way that Texas Tech runs the spread. He will have a hard time out recruiting OSU, PSU and Michigan for those types of athletes too. He will have a tough time outrecruiting Purdue, MSU, iowa and wisky for those kinds of athletes as well. NU will continue to be compete some years because they come up with good, smart athletes. zook supposedly can recruit, but he can’t coach very well, it would appear.
This brewster NEEDS to win Big Ten games when he has a chance to win them. wisky, iowa, Michigan have all struggled a LOT in 2008. Letting NU take that game away really hurt. The second half of the Big Ten season should have been a real break through point. It really is a shame.
I really am surprised that the strib doesn’t do something a bit more sophisticated. Because, it really is a horrible situation.
You know how kelly leeks, tipsy mcscrewoff and lloydthedrunk and that whole group of degenerates over on gopherhole have no class and no scrupples. That kelly leeks degenerate is the one who staged his death in a traffic accident. They thought they were pretty cute though. They have no moral sense of right and wrong and they appear to be total sociopaths. This studewll low-life fits in that catagory, however, someone may be hijacking his moniker at times.
Keepthisbrewsterhonest: contrast by THE RENEGADE says:
November 16th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Kent,
I don’t think this wisky defense is such a great defense. The Gophers scored over 30 on them in 2007 and again yesterday. THAT is not very good defense.
======================
Iowa destroyed them…………..
Iowa will have 35-40k fans minimum at the damn dome next week. This brewster has really turned the program around. And recruiting, you are a knucklehead. This brewster has blinded you to fool.
Hey Wayne, who was kneeling BEHIND studwell?
Just got back from Madison and it was another throw away game. When will this brewster realize that big ten wins are important? On a side note, Loon and I enjoyed ourselves at Woof’s. Saturday night was jock strap night and we ran into kelly leaks, dudwell and normally dale…what a hoot!
I think we need to give Dunbar one more year. Next year I think we’ll be averaging close to 500 yards a game.
Cruiting- Freshman excuse will always work as they are not physically where they need to be. As long as one team has majority upperclassmen against a younger team, it is an excuse.
the Loon says:
November 16th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Five years ago I repeatedly made the point that no coach can recruit effectively when he only has two years left on his contract. Those other schools that want that recruit will use that lack of confidence in the coach in their contacts with the recruits.
If you do not want to give an extension to a coach with two years left, you must buy him out or suffer a fall off in recruiting.
I could not believe that Maturi was so flat out stupid as to not renew Mason in 2005 OR buy him out. By the time we got to the 2006 Music City Bowl against Virginia, Mason was down to zero months. His assistants were down to zero days. Would you want to be recruited by coaches who would not even be at a school when you got there?
Stupid.
So we went on to renew the Mason contract in order to get the TCF Bank Stadium. With that done by the end of 2006 we fired Mason six weeks before recruiting day, messing up another recruiting class.
So dac, where are those three recruiting classes today? What a well executed bit of thinking by Maturi. Let us spend three years gutting three recruiting classes in a row when what Maturi really wanted for 2005 and 2006 was to get rid of Mason for his recruiting irregularities.
Maturi lied to me and most (not all) Gopher fans for fully two years. In doing so he assured himself and Coach Brewster of three things that were very important to himself, Maturi. He got the new stadium which would be the financial golden egg laying machine which would finance his “Stanford like” athletic department. He got rid of Mason whom he could not even breathe around. And, most importantly, he did both things without the NCAA filing charges against Mason AND Maturi over the recruiting game.
There dac went the recruits you are NOW worried about.
Perhaps you might have thought about that reality BEFORE you cheered Maturi on.
You dirty trickters at gh/gi like to hijack my moniker so much. Leaks, McScrewoff, LloydHannakah, dudwell, normally dale et. el. need to know I will always contrast you bitchers and bashers…you pimpers and pumpers will never win. So I sold my tickets to the Iowa game, big deal…get over it.
It was the 2005 Music City Bowl you dumb canuck loon!
gold … As grunk pointed out I did forget Small. He’s a good one.
Otherwise, you are far off the mark. Kuznia will not play next year, much, with the young talent we have at wide receiver.
If Weber continues to start it means Gray is not as good as I think he is. Weber was recruited by Mason as an average high school drop back quarterback. He does not have the speed or quickness to be a real dual threat in the spread. He is still throwing into a crowd after starting 23 games.
For the sake of the team, let’s hope Gray can take over.
gold … But by all means let’s all acknowledge you are a football genius who has been crowned All-Time Never Wrong (by a committee of one, of course).
wrenbawlbabymoron … As long as you are not degrading the Dome with your ugly presence, it doesn’t matter who else is there.
Keep your drugs and your racist mule out of the Dome.
Gold … Do you know how to read?
My post mentioned BOTH Tow-Arnetts. They are among the piddling 10-12 Mason recruits who will play a role next year. Ten or 12 guys for your junior and senior class? And you are defending this? Do you room with wren and Loon?
It seems that the record needs to be set straight almost every Sunday night about “how much better we are doing under Brewster”. OK, here we go again.
Yes andover, we have solved the problem of sometimes losing big leads. Other than blowing the big lead we had against NU last year, we have not blown another big lead until this week. No chance to blow a big lead when you do not bother to score or even get first downs.
You have also solved the problem of going to “mediocre” bowl games. No chance of that this year. There will be nothing mediocre about the Motor City Bowl.
Brewster has won 3/15ths of his Big Ten games, or 20%. Is that better than the 32/80 that Mason won without a new stadium to recruit towards? Is 40% with no stadium as good as 20% with a new stadium? Will the 20% improve of get worse over the rest of this year?
“How IS Brewster Doing When Compared To Mason, Chart”
In the three years before Mason took over:
1994 = 3-8 (1-7 in the Big Ten)
1995 = 3-8 (1-7)
1996 = 4-7 (1-7)
Mason’s first three years
1997 = 3-9 (1-7)
1998 = 5-6 (2-6)
1999 = 8-4 (5-3)
Mason’s last three years
2004 = 7-6 (3-5)
2005 = 7-6 (4-4)
2006 = 6-7 (3-5)
Brewster takes over with the new stadium being built, finally. Thank you Mason.
2007 = 1-11 (0-8)
2008 = 7-4 (3-4 and counting.)
All Brewster has to do to equal what Mason did in his first three years taking over from the 3-21 Jim Wacker is to win 5 of his next 9 Big Ten wins. And Brewster has the nice new stadium Mason left him. Thus far, Brew has done no better with more players and a new stadium than Mason did with players who had never been to any bowl and without a new stadium in the ground.
The 2006 Bowl game was the Insight Bowl mister Loon. A meltdown. 38-7 with 7:34 in the 3rd quarter. Mason was bagging it big time.
Hi-jack alert. You dirty tricksters at gh/gi will never win. Leakers, pukers, dudwellss, McScrewups, normally dale’s will will never win. It is almost time for a new moniker as you bitchers and bashers continue to steal my moniker…crash and burn kelly leaks and the rest of you dirty tricksters at gh/gi.
Over and over we were told that Miss Personality Mason single-handedly secured the new stadium for the Gophers. How an itinerant football coach with no ties to Minnesota and who spent full time lobbying for a better job could do this we were not told.
Now we know. We are now given to understand that it was not an itinerant football coach who hated being here that did the job. No, it was an ignorant and illiterate foreigner in the country illegally to promote his ugly racism who got the stadium.
Loon said it and you just can’t make up stuff that funny.
Keep the pressure on this brewster to show up for the iowa game. I’m picking the Gophers to beat iowa on Saturday. There is no reason to think that they should not. iowa struggled a lot in picking up a win against Purdue in their own joint on senior day. Run the ball and stop the run. THAT is what you need to do in November. This dunbar needs to go win or lose on Saturday.
I won’t be there but this Iowa game is a W for sure or else. This brewster needs to win a trophy game. Btw, my friends who are using my ticket are from Des Moines. Big Hawkeye fans but thet love the Vikings too.
Well, the darn fools who hijack of course have everything bass ackwards again. I didn’t make the trip to madison and, of course, I will be at the damn dome to say good riddance to bad administrative actions as the dome fades into the sunset.
The vikings suck, by the way. May they disappear with the dome. They will be stuck in the dome as long as they remain in Minnesota. It won’t be too long before they are gone though. That will be good.
This brewster HAS to pick up the pace. He also needs to ditch this dunbar. Go away dunbar…take you ineffective offense with you. In the Big Ten you have to be able to run the ball and stop the run.
Kent,
The Gophers will need to be MUCH improved in 2009 to even have a chance to finish the regular season at 7-5. The schedule will be so much tougher. Cal will replace FAU, or Montana State. Air Force will probably not present too many problems. PSU and MSU coming on the Big Ten schedule will really make a difference though. wisky and iowa probably won’t be too bad. Illinois? That zook supposedly can recruit but it sure doesn’t appear that he can coach.
Any team coming into the new stadium is going to be highly motivated to come out of that new stadium with a win. How much do you think wisky will be pointing to that game? MSU used to think they owned the Gophers…and…for the most part they did. Road games at iowa, OSU, PSU will be tough, tough games.
Right now, I think that it will be possible for Minnesota to be improved, but, I fear that they will not achieve as much in the W column as they did with their easy 2008 sechedul. Just looking at the Big Ten games, I think 3-5 might be about it. Assuming that they win 3 out of 4 ooc games in 2009, that would make a 6-6 record fairly realistic, I fear. It could be worse, if they aren’t able to run and stop the run in November. They will be playing all their games in the elements. Sometimes when the winds are swirling and the rain and flakes are falling and you are playing outdoors, it is ESSENTIAL to be able to run the ball and stop the run.
Will Roof remain with the team or be lured back into a better coaching opportunity? Will this brewster ditch this dunbar?
By the way: this brewster did the right thing by running out the clock to end the first half. I think that was good, conventional wisdom on his part. I really don’t think too many good things could have happened had he tried to force the issue. I believe that was one hopeful sign of coaching maturation that has occurred following the NU incident at the end of that game.
To go against the masses and to use some conventional wisdom is a very good thing. I liked that he didn’t throw an interception that was returned for a td in the waning moments of the first half at madison.
It was a tough loss, but the team has definitely improved tremendously this year.
The schedule is far tougher next year so we will have to see if this young crowd can handle the 2009 season.
I like where we are heading, but I agree with Kent in terms of having to play freshman RB’s–it is not desirable for the run or pass blocking, but it is what it is. And that’s a young team struggling to find itself.
I actually find the negativity amusing.
It is like people havent suffered thru 40 years of misery. This year has been relatively painless compared to so many campaigns. I dont get it, but I heard Brewster on cco today and he seems to be unphased by the naysayers.
Wren–I don’t really agree with you about who we can or can’t outrecruit for athletes. Ohio State & Michigan–yes, because of their tradition, stadiums and everything that goes with it it’s an incredible task to compete with them on the recruiting trails, especially OSU because Ohio has such great HS football and they do a great job of locking down the borders. PSU can be thrown in to that group but there recruiting has historically been more sporadic than the other two programs and they tend to pull from PA, MD, and NJ which is not where we tend to target so we don’t compete over too many of the same players (McNeal is the one exception this year).
After that I don’t feel like any other program in the Big Ten should have a recruiting advantage over the Gophers. You mentioned Purdue and that is actually one team that I believe we certaintly have an advantage over. First, Indiana HS football is not known as a powerhouse and you are competing with IU & Notre Dame for local recruits and Ball State may actually start competing for them too. Second, W. Lafayette is nothing to write home about and while it is a college town I see no reason a recruit looking for that atmosphere would choose Purdue over Iowa or Wisconsin which have better fan support, better stadiums & facilities, better campuses (in my opinion), and more money.
Wisconsin, Michigan State, Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota are five programs that should consistently outrecruit Northwestern, Purdue, and Indiana. All five have greater football tradition, better facilities, and unique draws (be it big city or classic college town atmosphere) and are not hampered by disadvantages such as academic requirements at Northwestern. However, Minnesota is just now entering that group of five because the new on campus stadium is finally going to put us closer to parity in terms of revenue.
A unique selling point for Minnesota is that it is based in a major metropolitan area which some student athletes want instead of being in a small town surrounded by corn fields. We have professional sports teams in all major sports and that can be important to student athletes that want to take in a game. The academics are approximately on par with any of the other schools. Now that we have the on campus stadium and facilities to compete with other schools there is no reason that we should be outrecruited by a Wisconsin, MSU, or Illinois. And we should probably outrecruit Iowa considering we have better HS football and we are the only D1 team in the state.
Dac,
If Weber is that bad, I’m sure glad Brewster is lying about how good his quarterback is. Brewster’s son left because he didn’t want to embarrass Weber.
Weber has played with NO running game the last two years, and a terrible O-line this year. Without Weber our offense would have been as bad as our defense was last year.
Next year both RB and O-line will be much better. I think people will be very suprised how good this offense will be next year. If Gray is better then let him play, but I predict they will reshirt him.
I was dissappointed in the Wisconsin game on the last drive that Weber didn’t even get a first down, but he was the reason why we only lost by 3 points.
I can’t wait until next year when they can bench the bum.
We truly need a good quarterback and Gray’s play in the High school All-star game proved he is much better then Weber.
Dac,
At times you are irrational as Loon and Wren can be. Maybe they can knock some sense into you.
I think Gray is going to be awesome and having watched the Army AA game last year I don’t think he is very far behind Pryor. However, I think Weber is also a great player and I think he should continue to start. Pryor has more upside than Weber but at this point I wouldn’t trade Weber for any other QB in the Big Ten. Earlier in the year I would have said it was Juice then Weber but Juice has really fallen off the last few games.
Gold04, unless they plan on using Pittman as the #2 QB I don’t think they redshirt Gray next year. Gray should be the #2 guy and as such you need him taking snaps in practice. What Gray will give us is a dynamic back up quarterback that can step in and win games if Weber goes down with an injury. The Gophers have been lucky because in the last ten years the only missed start from a QB that I remember was from a concussion to Cupito which kept him out of one start. That is not normal (knock on wood). This season alone Northwestern, Indiana, Michigan, and Purdue have had to rely on their second (or 3rd for Purdue) QB due to injury. Additionally, Penn State needed their back up to win the game against OSU when Clark was concussed.
BigGuy says:
November 16th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Cruiting- Freshman excuse will always work as they are not physically where they need to be. As long as one team has majority upperclassmen against a younger team, it is an excuse.
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And with the smart guys punky keeps bringing in they will never be “mentally where they need to be.” Brock and Kirksey have to be two of the biggest idiots to ever play for MN and them punkster makes excuses for them. Shouldn’t Brock have been booted on Sat for multiple after the whistle personal fouls?
Grun,
If Weber stays healthy I think they will reshirt Gray. If they need a quarterback to play a game, finish a game, or come in and run like the wildcat, then they will go with Pittmam. With the recievers we now have I think they will move Pittman back to quarterback.
If Weber gets hurts early in the season and looks like he will be out for the season then I think Gray would become a serious option.
With how good Weber is and having Pittman for one more year I think we should red-shirt Gray. Now if Gray comes in and is lights out then of course we should play him. Right now I have a hard believing he’ll beat out Weber on 2009.
There is no limit on personal fouls, but there is on Unsportsmen like fouls. Unsportsmen are like technical fouls and ejection after the second.
I agree about the dumb play and Brewster should have lit Kirksey up on the sideline. I would have been fine with a facemask grab from Brew.
Saturday’s game was fun to watch and great to see the effort out of this team. I hope Weber learned that others are dependable and not go back to the throw to Decker every play this week. The way they played on Saturday, they should be 8-2, but unfortunately they play very tight at home. Maybe that is because they are young 
Wow, amazzzed at the lack of football knowledge on this blog. Wake up, this is a hard nosed young team with a good future. True, many mistakes and some boneheaded fouls…..they will play Iowa tough, take the points.
According to the reporter, this was a heartfelt, emotional statement from Brewster. Can anyone imagine Mason saying that?? Say what you will about Brewster and this year’s Gophers, but they are playing their hearts out.
“We are going to lay on the sword for the next couple days, we are going to bleed this one out. This one’s gonna be tough to let go, but we’re gonna fight like crazy to get ready to go and play Iowa and finish as an 8-4 football team.”
Gold
Take a couple of deep breaths and relax.
500 yards of offense in 2009? Where will that all come from? 400 yd/game in the BT will be monumental with the OL we will have. I will play your game and procalim that the OL will still be the weak line in 2009.
Gray better than Weber? Gray has proved absolutely zilch at this point. Lets get the kid in school first B4 we proclaim him as the next Sandy Stephens.
This team has improved and that is what we need to expect. Same with 2009. Brewster needs two more classes to lay the foundation to be in position to win the BT on the last Saturday in November.
2009 will not be the year. Quality takes time.
I don’t know if this does any good, but let’s face it, Mason held the U hostage, laughed all the way to the bank, left the “cupboards” depleted, and did not have his heart in the program. We lost gut-wrenching games with both Mason and now with Brewster, but at least Brewster seems to hurt after them.
Gold–you still haven’t learned yet, have you?? Quit this ridiculous talk of 10 wins next year. Everyone who was spouting off when we were 7-1 and talking 8-9-10 wins this year, learn. You play em one at a time, there are no guarantees, there are no gimmes, etc.
I never expected the Gophers to play the run as well as they did against the huge Wisky OL and RB’s in the first 1/2. But I give Wisky credit as they adjusted at 1/2 and got things going their way.
I predicted 38-13 for Wisky going in. Turnovers and big plays are often the difference in BT games and that proved itself out for both teams.
Assuming we can contain Greene, tighten up the pass D, take care of the rock and no special team miscues, we can beat Iowa. A tall order. And, as usual, the offense will be on the shoulders of Weber.
Iowa keeps the pig.
Agree Texas.
Brewster is working his keister off to instil a winning, tough and agressive attitude. Thats a difficult task considering the situation he inherited.
IMO, Mason would have been fortunate to have won 4, maybe games in 07 with a green QB, injuries and lack of depth. And he likely would have been canned. No one can convince me differently.
Said that, we have gained a year on rebuilding the program. And the Little Ranger should have made the switch in 2005 but whimped out.
Even when we were 7-1, my take was that we were not in a position to take a run at the BT title, a team with needs and be fortunate to get to a bowl. So, we are where we were are. An improved team that has shown they are buying into Brewsters philosophy and also has attracted highly rated players. This could return dividends in a couple of years.
This team would be looked at much different had they beat NW and lost to Illinois. The three stratight losses magnifies the losses.
It is huge to have a winning season this year. All the new guys were not part of 1-11 last year and they should be confident to build on 7-5 or 8-4. Winning breeds more winning.
This team will only be as good as its offensive line.
I wish you guys had been half so ‘honest’ back in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Something like this would have been less of a lie:
“Sure, if we change coaches we will lose our running game and all but about a half dozen of our next two dozen Big Ten games. And ‘yes’, we will be lucky to open the new stadium with a 6-6 record, but by our fourth or fifth season we will be playing some highly rated high school players (by a former, part time mailman and pizza salesman). But the good news is we won’t be playing in anymore of those big games that we might lose anymore!”
So 2010 is now the year we might start winning more Big Ten games than we lose? We will still be in rebuilding for another few years yet? How many millions did we pay for this ‘change’? And what sort of honesty will we be getting when we get to 2010?
Loon—the choice was maintain mediocrity at best under Mason, or take a chance and shoot for something more. You have to give Brewster time to incorporate his players into his system. Then he needs to develop the players. It is still too early—the verdict is still out as to the Brewster era. Give the guy the time needed. In his 2nd year he has reached Mason’s standard. After 4 seasons we can do an honest evaluation of the program.
Loon. How many chances were you willing to give Mason? 11 years, 15, 20? Mason himself proclaimed to be rebuilding the program after ten years. Not something I wanted. Yet all you do is whine and complain after less than two season of Brewsterball.
Brutal honesty was needed, even if it was 3 years late. Mason would NEVER take the Gophers to the top and the even the suits finally realized it.
All this ruckus about a second year coach is wasted energy. And you keep with your stale message. You gave Mason ten years of your love. Try giving some to Brewster if you can.
Gold … Your post was stupid. I have not said Weber is “that bad” or a “bum”.
What I said is that if Gray is anything like Pryor (and he seemed to be on par with Pryor in the televised All-Star game) then he will be a better spread QB than Weber.
I ask for nothing more than an honest competition at quarterback, just like at every other position.
And if you think Gray will be redshirted next year, does that mean you would enter the season with one quarterback? Smart, gold, very smart.
I think this team can go 8-4 next year, but that all hinges on injuries, o-line play, and continued growth. It’s just speculation. I predicted 4 wins this year for all the same reasons. I will be discipointed in 7-5 after going 7-1 to start.
This offseason is going to be long any way you look at it. Anticipation will be high.
Gray should not red-shirt and should be the #1 back-up. Depending on injury or how the season goes, he should see time. This all hinges on him not being a bust physically or academically.
DAC—agree with QB assessment. No way Gray should be redshirted. We have the perfect situation going. Veteran Junior QB with a couple good freshmen prospects. Get them snaps in practice and some playing time. Ideally, we put Gray in for some QB run/option situations to get his feet wet and build confidence. BTW, a good source from the Army game said he likes Gray’s arm better than Pryor.
Some have mentioned that is should be easier to recruite to a larger metro area, but I disagree. I think being in true college town where you are not competing with pro teams is a much better college experience. The Gophers have never been the same since major leagues pro sports came to town.
Here is what I suggest: Drop the Gophers from Division IA, or whatever they call it now. Put them into IAA so they can still have a division I basketball team, but go into Div IA where they can be in the same league as South Dakota, South Dakota St. North Dakota, North Dakota state.
Meanwhile, make Minnesota State-Mankato, (drop the Mankato) or Minnesota State - St. Cloud (OK, its St. Cloud State now, but make it Minnesota State) your Division IA entry into the Big Ten. Then you would have a true college town experience to recruit to.
Take the new Gophers stadium, update it to NFL standards, and give that to Wilfie for the Vikings, if he pays for all the updating.
KevRL- Clever, but I don’t think it is in the plans. I’d love to see a 12th team in the Big Ten sometime however.
Tex … I thought from what I watched that Gray is just as good as Pryor. Obviously, Pryor was rated higher than Gray but that may not have been based on physical skills but simply because Gray was injured during his senior year.
Tressel had the guts to replace a senior quarterback who had lead the team to the national title game the previous year. He did it because Pryor was a better all-around threat.
Gray should be given the same opportunity to prove himself next spring and fall and during the season. We are running a spread offense. We need a real dual threat quarterback in the spread.
Kev … You should post more often. You are a true genius.
Who could disagree with your points:
1) Have the Gophers drop from Division 1A to play with South Dakota and Moorhead State.
2) Let St. Cloud play Ohio State and Michigan.
3) Give Wilf a taxpayer public stadium on the University campus.
4) You forgot to mention turning America over to Al Qaeda.
USC and Miami have certainly proved conclusively that a college football team located in a big city is doomed to failure. And of course both Columbus and Austin are just little cow towns.
Just my two cents, but I am tired of hearing how Mason had nothing to work with when he came Minnesota. Yet in year THREE when we went 8-4 in 1999. Mason used a large majority of Wackers players Carter, Hamiliton, Cockerham, leverson, Mezera,Hoffman, Hamner just to name a few the placed Minnesota back on the map. Now we have Brewster with a team that has the possiblity of going 8-4 and 4-4 in the big ten in year TWO that has more speed and athletes at key position and people act like players won’t get any better than what they currently are. What a joke you haters are.
KevRL#-That was quite possibly the dumbest thing I have ever heard. And I didn’t say recruiting to a Metro area was an advantage versus a college town, I said it was a differentiation which can be either an advantage or a disadvantage. High schoolers are looking for different things and USC and Ohio State seem to do a pretty good job recruiting in to a metro area. For loyalty of fans & sold out games it hurts the Gophers to have pro sports but you can access to pro games as a selling point.
A Hawkeye fan-Did you really just come on here and call our players criminals? My guess is that you’ve had the term criminals applied to your team so frequently that you think that is just a generic term for student athletes but no, that is specific to student athletes in Iowa City.
Loon-I wouldn’t say hold off for 2010 to start winning Big Ten games. I think 2009 will be a good year for the Gophers. Our defense is dominated by Juniors right now and I expect the D to peak in ‘09 before reloading with our ‘08 recruiting class in 2010. I’m not concerned about replacing Hightower (someone will work out between Triplett, Sharpe, U’u, Cooper, Reeves, Tinsley, Maresh) but Van De Steeg will be difficult to replace. He is by far our best pass rusher right now and game changing DE’s don’t grow on trees. It may mean that we have to blitz a lot more next year to make up for him which could create some deficiencies. Overall, I’m confident that as long as we have Roof he will find a way to use a scheme to help replace Van De Steeg.
As I look at the Big Ten schedule the only game I think we have a very low probability of winning is @ OSU. Outside of that, I’m confident we can beat Wisconsin at home; @ PSU will be tough but they have a very senior dominated team so they’ll be down next year; MSU at home should be a hard fought Big 10 game that we can win; Illinois has a lot of talent but we won there in ‘08 so at home in ‘09 seems winnable; and at Iowa is always a challenge but there is no reason to think it is not a winnable game.
Gosh, silly me, I thought that if a guy could win X number of games without the new stadium, he should be able to win X plus something number of games with the new stadium coming on. What the hell did I, and many others, put so much effort into getting the stadium if that assumption was not true?
Now you guys are saying that the new guy should not be held to a higher standard in his first three or four years even though he was given so much more to work with? Who is accepting mediocrity?
Grunkiejr, you are saying the defense will be better without WVDG because we will have players who are not playing this year? Did you learn NOTHING about freshmen being impact players this year?
Impact players are exacting what the words imply, they change the game. If they are not doing that by their sophomore year, they won’t be doing it. That was true of every impact player we have had, Decker, Weber, WVDS, Carter, Esslinger, Barber, etc., etc.
I hope you are right grunkiejr, but my experience says you are not. When we get players like WVDS we had better win. Every scheme ever invented can be countered by another scheme. What has made this D effective this year is that we can get a fair rush without blitzing.
I hope we win Saturday. Every single one of my 42 years as an adult fan tells me that we damn well better win because ‘tomorrow’ may never come.
I was at the Wisconsin game and saw an exciting, albeit mistake-filled game.
I too, am bullish on the Gopher’s chances next year. Get on board or get off…we’re tailgating this Saturday like it’s the first game at TCF Bank Stadium!
i just want to know if it is wrong for a man to get turned on when he takes his daughter across his knee and spanks her for being naughty? What do you guys thin?
good thing i do the laundry at our house! Anyone know how to get pecker tracks out of fruit of the lomb whitey-tightyies?
david_allen_coe says:
November 17th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Gold … Your post was stupid. I have not said Weber is “that bad” or a “bum”.
What I said is that if Gray is anything like Pryor (and he seemed to be on par with Pryor in the televised All-Star game) then he will be a better spread QB than Weber.
I ask for nothing more than an honest competition at quarterback, just like at every other position.
And if you think Gray will be redshirted next year, does that mean you would enter the season with one quarterback? Smart, gold, very smart.
—————–
I don’t see how the comments were stupid. Considering Mort got alot of reps in spring practice in 07, I am certain Gray and Weber will have a fair competition. I’d be absolutely shocked if Gray were to win out. Gray will be the backup and will see a few snaps per game. Come 2011, Gray be one of the top Qb’s in conference.
Loon says: “Now you guys are saying that the new guy should not be held to a higher standard in his first three or four years even though he was given so much more to work with?”
You’ve got to be kidding??
Gopher Supporter says:
November 17th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Just my two cents, but I am tired of hearing how Mason had nothing to work with when he came Minnesota. Yet in year THREE when we went 8-4 in 1999. Mason used a large majority of Wackers players Carter, Hamiliton, Cockerham, leverson, Mezera,Hoffman, Hamner just to name a few the placed Minnesota back on the map. Now we have Brewster with a team that has the possiblity of going 8-4 and 4-4 in the big ten in year TWO that has more speed and athletes at key position and people act like players won’t get any better than what they currently are. What a joke you haters are.
————-
Please post more often. It is nice to have intelligent posters on occasion.
KevRL# says:
November 17th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Some have mentioned that is should be easier to recruite to a larger metro area, but I disagree. I think being in true college town where you are not competing with pro teams is a much better college experience. The Gophers have never been the same since major leagues pro sports came to town.
Here is what I suggest: Drop the Gophers from Division IA, or whatever they call it now. Put them into IAA so they can still have a division I basketball team, but go into Div IA where they can be in the same league as South Dakota, South Dakota St. North Dakota, North Dakota state.
Meanwhile, make Minnesota State-Mankato, (drop the Mankato) or Minnesota State - St. Cloud (OK, its St. Cloud State now, but make it Minnesota State) your Division IA entry into the Big Ten. Then you would have a true college town experience to recruit to.
Take the new Gophers stadium, update it to NFL standards, and give that to Wilfie for the Vikings, if he pays for all the updating.
=================
Interesting, I wonder how all these big city recruits from St Louis, Dallas, and San Fran would like St Cloud?
Mankato> St Cloud any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Nagurski says:
November 17th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I was at the Wisconsin game and saw an exciting, albeit mistake-filled game.
I too, am bullish on the Gopher’s chances next year. Get on board or get off…we’re tailgating this Saturday like it’s the first game at TCF Bank Stadium!
————–
Syracuse will be opening the seaosn with a new coach and systems. One would think this would be good news for us although Robinson was terrible.
I’m not certain what Air Force will have coming back, but we better be ready for the veer.
Cal should be really good, I think we might be in trouble here.
Big Ten:
Iowa? Trending down
Wisconsin? Will have alot less experience. I think we take down Becky.
NU- Will Have Kafka
PSU and MSU are back on the schedule.
Illanoy will be tough again with Williams, but I like our chances.
PU will have a new head coach, I like our chances.
Indiana, We should get a win here.
If we can win 7-8 games again next with that schedule, it should be viewed as more improvement within the program.
I absolutely loved watching the gopher squad during the Jump Around at the end of the Third Quarter Saturday. They were going nuts. Half the Badger and Gopher teams were almost at midfield bringing each other on. I’ve never seen this much passion and playing with a chip on the shoulder than I have the past year in a Gopher team.
Brewster and the other assistants don’t back down to anyone.
Brewster brings a different mindset.
Never saw that edge in a Gutey, Wacker, or Mason team.
Bring it Hawkeye Fan….its pretty hilarious watching Badger and Hawkeye fans getting yanked out of the dome cause you think you can ‘bring bedlam’.
Last year was the best….two badger fans in front of us started giving everyone the finger. About two minutes later they were eating concrete with the help of security. Just hilarious.
Derek … The comments were stupid because he is trying to say I am calling Weber a terrible quarterback and a “bum”. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Gray is our first QB recruit specifically for the offense we are running. Weber was not.
I am simply looking at what Tressel discovered when he brought in Pryor. He ended up benching a senior who had lead the team to a national championship game. The Gophers and fans should not close their minds to something like that happening here. It is possible.
If Gray can help this team win by being on the field — whatever amount of time — I hope our coaches have the guts to do it.
GoGophs says,
“I’ve never seen this much passion and playing with a chip on the shoulder than I have the past year in a Gopher team.”
____________
Yeah, but don’t you know that is a crime and poor coaching to fire up the team? Somebody might get a roughness penalty.
Much better to play the carryover Mason one-star recruits with 7.5 speed, bench press 80 pounds, and think a tackle is something you use fishing.
Derek—that is a legitimate schedule next year. I wish SDSU was at the beginning of the year instead of the end. Big East, Pac 10, and Mountain West is a very tough nonconference schedule.
DAC–I hope the coaching staff is put in the tough situation of allocating playing time to our QB’s. That will say that the program has made huge strides, that Gray is the real-deal, and that we are getting some depth on the roster.
Gopher Supporter says:
November 17th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Just my two cents, but I am tired of hearing how Mason had nothing to work with when he came Minnesota. Yet in year THREE when we went 8-4 in 1999. Mason used a large majority of Wackers players Carter, Hamiliton, Cockerham, leverson, Mezera,Hoffman, Hamner just to name a few the placed Minnesota back on the map. Now we have Brewster with a team that has the possiblity of going 8-4 and 4-4 in the big ten in year TWO that has more speed and athletes at key position and people act like players won’t get any better than what they currently are. What a joke you haters are.
I have made that very point myself many times. If Brewster were a better coach than Mason he would be winning more with the players left to him than Mason did with the players left to him. The opposite has occurred. Brew has made less with more.
Indeed, when we went to the Sun Bowl that first time I walked across the bar that ‘CCO was broadcasting from so I could thank Jim Wacker for his efforts on our behalf and to tell him that many of us well understood that it was his recruits who were playing for us. He tried to make little of what he had done and was certain that Coach Mason had done a great job to get us to this bowl. I repeated that he could be as gracious as he wanted but that did not mean that he wasn’t a big part of what we were doing at this bowl game.
Jim Wacker was a class man.
By the way, I certainly agree that Gray will not start next year unless Weber gets injured. And, I also agree that a player can not be the backup without taking a ton of snaps in practice. However, if Weber were not injured and Gray was the backup, he could still get the red shirt if he did not play.
Cupito redshirted, held for place kicks his second year and started for the next three. That would be ideal, but there are a real ton of ‘ifs’ in that scenario working for Gray.
“That will say that the program has made huge strides, that Gray is the real-deal, and that we are getting some depth on the roster.”
_________
Tex … PRECISELY my point all along. We should not be frightened by the prospect that Weber or anyone else is challenged for playing time. We should relish the prospect. It means the team is getting much better with more talent and depth.
“Cupito redshirted, held for place kicks his second year and started for the next three.”
_______________
That is only ideal if the starter gives the team the best chance to win. What is really ideal is that the best guy get the playing time. Tressel recognized the ideal and it paid off for Ohio State.
You sad sick pathetic gh/gi dude/dudettes will never keep me from posting. This brewster needs to be contrasted and THAT is a good thing. I have sold my tickets to the Iowa game to dirty pig fans. It was tough to do but until this brewster sends this dunbar and his horrible spread offense packing I will not attend another game. I have been a loyal fan for over 50 years and I will always support the gophers but I cannot in clear conscience support the wasteful spending by this prexy b and 2 consecutive throwaway seasons. You drinkers/drunkards binge away and bash each others brains at the damn dome saturday. Drink as many 6 dollar beers at the damn dome as your rock hard livers can take and may kelly leaks crash and burn…I will come to beantown and hunt you down like the dirty gh trickster you are leaks…and THAT you can count on! And Tipsy McScrewoff, I’ll see to it that the next time I see you at a game, I will personally shove that ugly gold polyester blazer right down your piehole.
I would rather have the Iowa Fans there. At least they are fans.
Loon-I’m not really sure where you’re coming from. I acknowledged that Van De Steeg would be hard to replace and that we would probably have to blitz which would make for other deficiencies (more pressure on DB’s). I think that pretty much is an agreement with what you argued after I wrote it. And you definitely put words in my mouth when you said that I expected players that are not playing to step up and take that spot. It is extremely rare for Freshman to be impact players at DE, DT or o-line. If freshman make an impact it is at WR (Julio Jones at Bama, Michael Floyd @ ND, Ron Johnson), RB (Maroney, Barber) or DB (Tyrone Carter). If we are lucky enough to get Sheldon Richardson he has the potential to be that rare impact DE that is a true freshman but my guess is that Cedric McKinley is the new DE next year and we have seen this year that he is not Willie Van De Steeg.
Regardless, I think the defense will be good next year and another year of weight training and bowl, spring and fall practice helps this offense improve. If you don’t believe the offense is better next year then you don’t believe in our coaches ability to coach and train.
You never really replace a player like Willie. But there is the opportunity for the entire defensive front unit to improve because of developing talent and more depth.
Brown, Small, and Onwuachi made big leaps from last year and they can both be better as seniors. Moen has improved too. Jewhan Edwards, a true freshman, has gotten a lot of playing time every week. He will be nothing but better with a year of experience behind him.
McKinley, Jacobs, and Kirksy have gotten their feet wet and have great size. All three should be ready to really contribute next year. Henderson has gotten a little playing time.
Will any of these guys be the force Willie is? No. But as an improved unit with plenty of depth we can still be better than this year up front.
The gopherhole moniker hijackers are in full force today again. I am so pleased that they are so fucused on me.
I will, of course be at the game on Saturday and I want a Gopher Win over the hawkeyes. The one thing I will say is I have met some decent old timer hawkeye fans, but their young punks and students are about as obnoxious as the badger young punks and students. I will also be willing to bet that our Gopher young punks and some students are equally lacking in common decency traits and are basically spoiled brats. I seriously question am thinking that there should be no more than 5,000 Minnesota students allowed in the new stadium. They don’t pay very much for tickets. They arrive late. They leave early. They are pretty obnoxious I think that college football games are pretty much wasted on college students. They are all so wasted any way.
Let’s start a discussion about whether there should be no more than 5,000 students allowed to buy cheap tickets for the student section since they show up late and leave early and too often are obnoxious little brats! ;0)
On a more positive note: get rid of this dunbar and his stinking spread offense. Run the ball and stop the run in November!
wrenbawler … Why let 5,000 students into the new stadium? If they are going to bother your highness wrenbawlness, why not limit student tickets to 50? After all, isn’t that the main idea of moving back on campus to keep the students away?
You are a genius, wrenbabbler.
KevRL the Vikes will be gone by 2014 so it will be a gopher town before you know it, in the court the golden rodents could probably beat the t-pups, so they don’t have to worry about competing for ticket sales. On the field the reason this mason recruits vs Brewster recruits debate is going on is because Brewster didn’t quit on the kids he already had in the program. He took what he had and added some recruits and did a good job of meshing them together, 18 starters returning, another top 25 class coming in to provide more depth, this will be a danderous team next year, tough schedule, but they should be able to compete against all their opponents.
grunkiejr, what have you seen in two years that would lead you to believe that Brewster and Dunbar have the ability to coach up players?
We will not know much about next year until next year. I have seen nothing to indicate that the schedule will not be much more difficult, our best defensive player will be gone, our spread offense will be as ineffective as it has been for the past two years and we will need to replace both kickers with rookies.
None of that means we will not win 9 games next year, but all of that suggests to me that will not happen. Remember, my days of Kool Aid drinking are over. Losing one impact player is in and of itself more important than any number of additional “B” players and until I actually see some of these ’super recruits’ play like impact players that it is all they are ever going to be - unproven rookies. Certainly, not one of the new freshman has shown “impact player” yet.
Dac,
If you reshirt Gray it does not mean your down to one quarterback. Dunbar told Gray this year, he could be reshirted but be ready to come in at any time. Then the SAT got in the way.
If Weber plays great and is healthy, you have Pittman doing the mop up. If Weber goes down and is out for a long time then you seriously consider putting in Gray. Or if Weber is playing horrible then you consider putting in Gray. It’s really not that difficult. You don’t have to tell the NCAA before the season starts that you are reshirting a player. Gray can be competing for the position but your waiting to see how things play out first before you play him. Your not depending on one quarterback. It’s not that difficult.
Mr. Rendahl, you need to adress me as Sir. Your manners are terrible. Please show some respect, after all, I am one of millions paying your wife’s social security so that she can continue to support your lazy fat rump when she retires.
Loon,
Your drinking a little too much if you think next year’s schedule will not be more difficult.
Syracuse, Air force and California is a heck of a lot tougher then Florida Atlantic, Bolwing Green and Northern Illinios. California ia always good and Air Force is 8-2 this year with their entire team coming back. Syracuse is struggling but you are playing at there place. PSU and MSU will still be a lot better the Indiana and Michigan next year.
The Loon says:
grunkiejr, what have you seen in two years that would lead you to believe that Brewster and Dunbar have the ability to coach up players?
———————
Adam Weber, Willie V, Eric Decker, Bennett.
Since you love asking us to prove negatives. Who is to say that these guys aren’t the players they have become because of Brewster/Dunbar.
No you can’t but god forbid you admit that it might be true.
The foundation is there and with the stable of young talented kids coming in next year the sky is the limit for this program. I’m excited the direction of Gopher football is headed. Keep it up coach Brew!
Bottom line is 3-12 in Big Ten play. No court jesters hiding in their cups can help this brewster improve that number. Only a heck of a lot of Big Ten wins in the 2009 seasonwill help this brewster. Dump this dunbar. This brewster’s overserved stooges can prance around wearing all the halloween costumes they like. 3-12 is still 3-12.
kinta…can’t see it. 2009 may find the team being better but I can’t see more than 6 or if nothing is breaking bad, maybe 7 wins in 2009. It could go to five if things do break bad. Can’t see it kinta…just can’t.
Loon: Go4fan covered it well with the players he mentioned. The development of Weber has been phenomenal. With an inferior line he has taken his interception total from 19 down to 7 with one game remaining.
Decker was good last year but he is better this year.
Van De Steeg is certainly better this year and I realize that you may try to claim injury hampered him last year so I’ll instead point out the development of Brown and Small on the defensive line. They’re doing a great job of slowing down running games–cut backs from Kafka are not the responsibility of the DT’s.
Hightower and Theret also both look better than last year.
The rest of the defense has either moved positions (Campbell & Sherels), are Juco recruits (Lawrence, Simmons, Brock), or are new starters this year (Onwauchi).
Wren, Are you serious? 5-7 wins is all that you think is possible next year? If we come away with less than 7 I’ll be very disappointed.
Schedule:
@ Syracuse–(W)
Air Force–(W) Good team
California–(W) Good team, could go either way
@ Northwestern–(W) Good team but winnable
Wisconsin–(W) Rival that we should beat at home
Purdue–(W) They graduate Painter & Sheets
@ Penn State–(L) They graduate a ton of players so this is winnable
@ OSU–(L) They graduate a lot but they always just reload
Michigan State–(L) Much improved team
Illinois–(W) We won there this year, we should be able to do it here in ‘09
SDSU–(W)
@ Iowa (L) Winnable game that I’ll forecast for the rival at home
The only game I think is a really low probability of victory is @ OSU. So many of our competitors are losing a lot of seniors so we’ll actually have the edge on experience for a change. I think this team could be anywhere from 6-6 to 10-2 and if we are less than 7-5 I think the team underperformed.
Yes, 5 to 7 wins in 2009 looks like a realistic achievement level for 2009. Of course I hope there is more, but, I believe it is a stretch to feel extremely confident that it will be likely that the team, with it’s current offensive coordinator, (for right now I will assume that Mr. Roof will be back as defensive coordinator…time will tell) is going to be 4-0 in ooc play with Air Force and Cal replacing Montana State and FAU. In both the Cal and Air Force games it will be essential to RUN the ball and to STOP the run. The Cal game, especially will demand the ability for the Gophers to have a well-balanced offensive attack that includes the ability to RUN the ball and to have some 4 down red zone 3rd and three and 4th and one first down conversions to keep drives going and ending in TOUCHDOWNS rather than field goal attempts. So, go 3-1 in the ooc portion of the schedule and suddenly, you need to go at LEAST 3-5 in Big Ten play to even get to six wins. Beat NU (so far the young coach at NU OWNS this brewster), beat Purdue, and beat Illinois and you are six and six. Go 4-4 in Big Ten play and add a win against wisky or MSU and you would be at 7-5. THAT is about the best that I can see happening looking at that schedule. In fact, in order to get to 7-5, I think the Gophers will need to be much improved in their ability to run block AND pass block. I think a quality rb will need to emerge. And, the defense will need to have a real force emerge in the defensive line.
And, playing all their games outdoors and well into November, they are going to need to stop the run and force other teams to beat them through the air.
They will need to be able to CONSISTANTLY control some clock and pick up crucial first downs running the ball as well, to get to that four and four mark in Big Ten play.
IF there are a lot of injuries, it could be a long season. That is true for a number of teams in the Big Ten…not just the Gophers. That Penn State, Ohio State, MSU back to back to back stretch looks pretty brutal. Being physical is going to be essential going down the stretch. Closing the Big Ten season out at iowa city on their senior day, the lads had best be prepared for a very physical match up in who knows what kind of weather.
I think getting six wins in 2009 will be a real challenge and getting 7 wins would mean really holding up on the injury front, some growth and development, a fair amount of good luck and would mean that they had played significantly better than in 2008 even though the record would be no better or maybe even no as good as in 2008.
I fear that if just a few things go wrong, 5-7 might be closer to what actually will transpire in 2009. The new stadium will inspire the Gophers…PLUS…it will inspire th gophers opponunts. I would imagine that wisky will really be primed for that one…
I know the schedule will be tougher next year but I’d be dissappointed if we only win 5-7 games.
This year I predicted 8 wins but I said Brewster needs to win at least 6 games in order for me to believe the program is heading in the right direction.
Next year I predict 10 but Brewster needs to win at least 8 in order for me to believe the program is going forward.
If we don’t win at least 8 games next year then I wonder if Brewster is like Callhan at Nebraska. Callhan could recruit but lacked on the coaching end. If we don’t win at least 8 next year then I think we have another Callhan. If Brewster is the real deal, we should at the very least win 8 games next year. I hope Brewster is the real deal.
Hey Hawkeye fan, you cousin is waiting to leave on her honeymoon with you. The whole family is so proud, understand you play the banjo?
The dumb question of the week is:
” … what have you seen in two years that would lead you to believe that Brewster and Dunbar have the ability to coach up players?”
_________________________
Oh, not much other than going from 1-11 to 7-4 with one to play coaching the third youngest team in Division I.
Wren–Please keep in mind that we will have Bennett back at RB which means we will improve at that position. Further we will have greater depth with Eskridge & Shady back with a year of experience and a year in the weight rooms. Time will tell what we have with Whaley and Lipscomb.
The freshman WR’s stepped up and played a good game at Wisconsin in Decker’s absence. Having another year of Decker, Kuznia and another year of practice for Green, Smith & McKnight and adding Carpenter, Keise, and hopefully McNeal will also make the receiving corps much better and deeper.
Weber returns at QB and I expect him to continue to improve as he did this past year. Behind him we will have Gray and Alipate. Alipate is a question mark and probably will redshirt. Gray may be a question mark to the Gopher public as a whole but I watched him practice with the team last fall and he is everything that you have heard. I’m comfortable with our 2 deep at QB.
On the line we return everyone and we add Caraful from Notre Dame. As fans we don’t know exactly what Caraful will add but if he enters the starting line up all that he can do is make them better. This line really needs a year or two in the weight room so they should be better next year but the question still remains how much better.
On Defense we will have the entire starting secondary back, we add Royston to compete for a job-and add depth-and youngsters like Rallis have another year of experience. The secondary should be better and deeper with good coaching and added players.
At LB, we lose a starter in Hightower and the top reserve in Davis while returning Campbell and Lawrence. Triplett is the favorite to grab the third starting position and we also have Sharpe and U’u as upperclassman. Cooper redshirted this year to add weight and I suspect Tinsley is also redshirted. Aside from those two we add Reeves and Maresh. Whether the LB corp is better or deeper remains to be seen because we have no clue where the youngsters are at, how much Campbell/Lawrence improve, and whether Triplett can adequately replace Hightower.
On DL we return three starters and lose our best in Van De Steeg. The returning DT’s and DE should improve through further weight training and coaching and the youngsters Edwards and Kirkesy will benefit from having a year of experience this year. The group should have greater depth but whether McKinley can come close to replacing Van De Steeg remains to be seen.
Overall, the offense should be unquestionably better given the only starter we lose is Simmons and we add Bennett and Carufel and a year of experience across the board. The defense should be deeper, but whether they are better depends largely on replacing Van De Steeg.
I stand behind that I will be disappointed if we don’t win atleast 7 games next year.
gold says,
“If you reshirt Gray it does not mean your down to one quarterback. Dunbar told Gray this year, he could be reshirted but be ready to come in at any time. Then the SAT got in the way.”
_________________
gold … I may be wrong and someone can correct me if I am but I do not believe Gray has another season for redshirting. I believe, because he started fall practice with the team, this will be considered his redshirt season.
But, let’s explore your theory of having a guy redshirt but “be ready to come in at any time.” That doesn’t work.
It could have worked for Gray this year because we had Mortenson and Maciejowski, two fifth-year seniors, standing on the sidelines.
You cannot go through a season with only one quarterback mentally and physically prepared to play. Being told you are red-shirting and also being prepared in practice to play are just two totally different things.
What would you do if Weber played every offensive down until, say, the 10th game and then got the wind knocked out of him? Because the refs stop play he has to go out for at least one play. It is third and eight and we’re down three points with under two minutes to play.
Tell me, Coach Gold, do you then throw out a Pittman? Marcus Sherels? Stoudermire? Anyone? Just to kill the play and then punt the ball away to lose the game? Or do you try to win the game and ruin Gray’s redshirt season?
I would much rather face that situation with a quarterback who was fully prepared and expecting to play and one who had already played a lot in the previous games.
But as I say, I don’t believe Gray has a redshirt season anyway. Alipate will be redshirted.
“Next year I predict 10 but Brewster needs to win at least 8 in order for me to believe the program is going forward.”
______________
Note to gold … If you want to post like the moron wrenblabbers, just use his name.
Grow up. You cannot look at a schedule a year in advance and decide how many wins means improvement or not. You have to play the games and evaluate the team every quarter.
We can win 6 or 7 games unless we see more playmakers in the Spring game.
Even though we reuturn our RB’s and OL, I see both spots the weak link. We lack playmakers at RB and Bennett didn’t show me much. Maybe Carufel will help and the 3 RSFr will grow up. Same can be said for the DL as no one has shown the ability to step up like WVD did this year.
Going into 2008 I felt we would not match our 07 BT offensive output of 22.9 ppg but would easily improve on the horid 38.0 ppg on D. To date, we scored 19.4 ppg and have given up 22.1.
Top BT teams allow 13-18 ppg on D and score in the upper 20’s to 30 on offense. Getting to those numbers on either side of the ball will be difficult in 09.
Keep in mind the D has allowed 30.5 points in our 4 BT losses. 35 to Wisky, 34 to OSU, 29 to Michigan and 24 to NU. And we averaged just 19 ppg in our four losses. That just doesn’t cut it.
IMO, we need more playmakers and better athletes and at least another two solid recruting classes to be a contender in November. Until they show up, we will continue to struggle to get to a minor bowl game.
Very fair assessment Bayfield. I have been an Eskridge backer for most of the year, but I think Salomon in playing better now.
Looks like you idiots have annoited Gray the next Clint Brewster……yaddy yaddy yada. Instant starter! Beats out Weber! First year, 1st team all Big 10! Heisman candidate!!!!! Rose Bowl! Rose Bowl! Rose Bowl! Oooops…doesn’t Clint still have several years of elgibility? LMAOR!
We need to get to the point where we have 5, 6 or 7 players make BT first or second team on an annual basis. Willie and Decker both have good chances in 08 but after that???????
Our RB’s are young and will get better but there are no LM’s, MB3, Tapeh’s, Hamner, etc types in sight. Thee is no dominate OL to run behind when we need 2 tough yards. Weber is doing fine and is a top 5 BT QB. Outside of Willie,overall our DL are average BT players at best. Same with LB’s. Our DB’s are much better but no shutdown type CB or first team BT safeties.
Brewster needs time to recruit these players to the UM and get them some experience.
Bayfield–ESPN is forecasting 5 players this year. He has WVDS, Decker, and Traye Simmons for first team and Weber and Sherels for 2nd team.
WVDS & Decker definitely deserve it. Simmons and Sherels could just as easily be flip flopped or both on the second team. Weber is maybe the most controversial but I can’t say I disagree. They have Clark as first team. This would have gone to Juice but he has really slumped down the stretch. Pryor is probably the next best but Weber has better stats. Then Stanzi, Hoyer, Bacher/Kafka, Painter/Siller, Lewis/Chappell, Sherrer, Threet/Sheridan. It is not a great list after those top 4 QB’s.
I should mention, for DB’s ESPN didn’t differentiate between CB and S. Jenkins from OSU and Davis from Illinois are both first team too. We have good corners but those two are are light years better than as shut down corners and they maybe are the two best in the country. I think they’ll both be first round picks this year.
david_allen_cole…in regards to your question about whether or not you would put Gray in for one play and lose his redshirt season. Gray would not lose his redshirt in that scenario. He could actually play the entire game and still redshirt. If I’m not mistaken a player has to play over 20 or 30% of the plays/games in the season to lose redshirt elgibility. Think Duane Bennett. He played in a couple games before he blew out his knee and he was able to redshirt this season.
grunkiejr
I see Weber as HM as he is rated #6 in passing efficiency in the BT. Juice and Pryor are far ahead of the others and Clark a distant 3rd. Simmons could make 1 or 2, or at least HN, as he is listed amongst the BT leaders in pass defended and INT’s. Who knows amongst the DB’s as it takes a lot of film review to pick out the best 8. Sherels getting HM could happen.
My point is we need more of these type of playmakers.
So bayfield, the recruiting class two years from now will need a couple of years to settle in? So we are now looking at the 2012 season as the year we can expect to go to January (2013) bowl game?
So, let me see what we have done. We gave Mason an extra $5 million to get the TCF, hired the new better guy to rebuild the program and will need to wait until the 2012 season to see and results around 10-3 (Mason’s best year)?
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 will just be years to get back to where we were under the guy who “could not get over the hump” even if he had the new stadium? You think this could happen because the past recruiting class was so good (we know that because the well paid recruiting guys say Brew did very well - never mind that none of those freshmen did anything of note) and there can be no doubt the recruits will stay in school and out of trouble, that we should just keep supporting this coach because he has shown so much?
Gosh, my crystal ball is so foggy I can barely guess at when the Brew will win even one of our trophies! I will need to borrow yours to see even 2010, let alone our “mediocre” team of 2012 (your standard, not mine).
My guess is limited to the notion that beating Iowa on Saturday would be a good thing.
david_allen_coe says:
November 17th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Derek … The comments were stupid because he is trying to say I am calling Weber a terrible quarterback and a “bum”. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Gray is our first QB recruit specifically for the offense we are running. Weber was not.
I am simply looking at what Tressel discovered when he brought in Pryor. He ended up benching a senior who had lead the team to a national championship game. The Gophers and fans should not close their minds to something like that happening here. It is possible.
If Gray can help this team win by being on the field — whatever amount of time — I hope our coaches have the guts to do it.
—————
You can’t compare Gray to Pryor, Gray hasn’t played in a game in nearly two years if you discount the Army game.
The dumb question of the week is:
” … what have you seen in two years that would lead you to believe that Brewster and Dunbar have the ability to coach up players?”
Last year we had 1 2nd team all-big ten player (Dom BArber) and 1 HM (Kucek). This year we have a legitimate shot at 4-6 players.
Loon—how many times are you going to rehash your love of Mason’s tenure?? We have a classic Mason year right in front of your eyes. You should be eating this up. The difference is we see upside potential to this 7-4 or 8-5 season. Mason would have been content with the year, Brewster is striving for more.
Last year we had 1 2nd team all-big ten player (Dom BArber) and 1 HM (Kucek). This year we have a legitimate shot at 4-6 players.
======================
That is preposterous homerpidity even for this board, TX.
REC–what is preposterous?? Our one and only 2nd team member graduated from last year’s team. Right now, ESPN thinks we have a shot at 5 guys on the all-big ten 1st or 2nd squad. You don’t think that is improvement?? Of the 5 guys being discussed, that doesn’t include our only HM last year (Kucek). This program is going in the right direction with a helluva lot more upside than in recent memory.
you tools don’t even realize that kent’s posts are getting spaced farther and farther apart. this is because ya’ll are acting like teenagers. i for on would rather have kent shut down the comment section and continue to update us on the internal happenings of the team.
of course then some of these posters would have no other boards to post on, as they have been kicked off them all.
however, i would miss the random poster saying: “according to my sources” as if they are bob woodward.
Bowl selections could be interesting. According to ESPN, the Outback and Alamo bowls have no restriction on the Big Ten teams they take. Basically they could take Iowa or Wisconsin fans over MSU if they choose to.
“Pryor is probably the next best but Weber has better stats. Then Stanzi, Hoyer, Bacher/Kafka, Painter/Siller, Lewis/Chappell, Sherrer, Threet/Sheridan. It is not a great list after those top 4 QB’s.”
_____________
Grunk … Do we really think Weber is the second best QB in the league when he was outplayed head-to-head by backups at Northwestern, Michigan, and Wisconsin, by a first-game starter at Ohio State, and somewhat matched by the third string guy at Purdue?
On the other hand, he outplayed the two premiere QBs in the league from Illinois and Indiana. It’s hard to rank QBs without taking into account the offensive lines, running games, and receivers each has to work with.
Maroon and Gold … I believe there is a difference in the rules when a medical redshirt is applied for such as in the case of Bennett. But you may be right.
In any event, I don’t think Gray has another year coming for redshirt.
Derek … I am not directly comparing Gray and Pryor today. Why is that so hard to understand?
I am comparing scenarios and possibilities. When Ohio State started this season nobody knew what Pryor was capable of doing. Now we do.
All I am saying here is that neither Weber nor any other player on this team (realistically excluding Decker) is above honest competition for a starting position next year.
Why is everybody so frightened here to even dare mention that Gray might be a better spread QB than Weber? We know Weber is good and improving. If Gray turns out to be better that means even more improvement for the team. That doesn’t frighten me but apparently it’s too terrifying for most of you to even contemplate.
DAC–I think they might not want a QB controversy. I believe Brewster is smart enough to know how to utilize Gray without destroying the cohesiveness of the team. This is Weber’s team and rightfully so but that doesn’t mean Gray, or anyone else, can not contribute.
Tex … This is not Weber’s team. It is everybody’s team.
If the coaches want to win, and nobody should discount that desire, they want the best competition possible at every position including quarterback.
To say this is Weber’s team is absurd. He is one player, just like all the rest.
Tell me, was the cohesiveness of the Ohio State team destroyed when Pryor replaced the 5th year senior who lead the team to the national championship game the year before?
For those of you who believe I am down on Weber and want to create a quarterback controversy, I urge you to think clearly about what I am saying and not have a knee jerk reaction.
I respect the great improvement Weber has made. He has a great arm. He used the Big Ten’s best receiver very well for most of the season. But none of that means someone else cannot play QB for the Gophers next year, at least part of the time.
In the Weber era, Adam has started 23 football games and played all except six offensive snaps. Mort took four snaps last year and Maciejowski took one this year, as did Stoudermire.
I don’t believe that is a smart way to prepare a football team for the possibility the quarterback will be injured. Do we have anyone today who could do what the second and third string quarterbacks from Purdue, Indiana, Northwestern, Michigan, and Wisconsin have done to us this year?
I do not want to go through 2009 hoping Weber never gets knocked out. That is pushing our luck too much. A second quarterback has to get playing time and be ready. If that also means the near-unthinkable, such as happened at Ohio State, then so be it.
So, d_a_c-off, you are saying that this brewster and this dunbar have been incredibly stupid for what they have done?
One can read your bitches no other way.
This young Mr. Gray has a LONG way to go before he ever steps on the field. I wish him well. But, to annoint him as the heir apparent is based on nothing but your own bias and the entire situation will play out over the course of time.
Mr. Weber IS the man and WILL BE the man at the qb position and only injury will take him out of that spot.
You can bitch about this brewster’s foolishness in doing what he has done all you want. Throw this dunbar under the bus…PLEASE! They have played Mr. Weberthe way they have played him…abused him…thrown him out to the wolves and he has been a GREAT warrior for the Gophers. He has MORE heart than this brewster can ever imagine or has any right to take for granted.
This Mr. Weber needs to be treated with NOTHING but respect. He has been a real hero. He is ONLY in his 2nd year of competition.
That you suggest that this brewster and this dunbar have been second-guessable about their handling of the qb situation will be thrown open to the opinions of the masss.
Weber has done MORE than anyone ever had a right to ask him and he will continue to do so!
Loon
Does 13 and 4 and 15 and 6 mean anything to you? That’s the number of Sr’s & Sr starters Mason left us the last two years. Not good numbers.
Compare that to 33 and 16 for this years PSU squad. Good teams have depth and experience mixed in with talented younger players. Most competitive programs have 20 or so Sr’s.
and a good share of their starters (40% or more) are Seniors.
The Gophers are lagging far behind and it will take some time for Brewster to develop depth and bring in more playmakers.
Most football minds understand this.
Well it is good to know that not many things change here on the strib blog. Whisky almost gave us just what I said they would have to do on last thurs. We did not have to return the favor in the secound half though. Wisc. is just what they appear to be a 7-5(3-5) Big Ten team. Some of you will say they are going down hill in the little Beavers 3rd year and you may be correct but Barry had down years after his 1st rose bowl and again after his 2nd and 3rd rose bowls so we will just have to wait and see. It appears as if we have traded one problem for another this year. Our defense is playing better but our offense has gone to the bottom. In Big Ten games only which is the only true standard we are 11th in Rushing, Total. We are 9th in Scoring and 1st downs and we are 7th in Pass Eff. Our defens is 4th in scoring and 1st downs. 9th in Total and Pass Eff. 7th in Pass Def. and 6th against the run. That sounds about right considering our record. The 3 best defenses in the Big Ten are OSU, PSU and Iowa. We did not fare well against OSU and Iowa will give us all we can handle up front. We could not move the ball against NW our Purdue and they have better defensive fronts than Whisky. We are bowl bound and that is big. It will give the younger players 15 more practices to improve for next year and that is a good thing. No one would listen to me last year but the chickens are coming home to rost now. Everyone told me to shut up and that I was a hater when I had a concern about how many players were leaving the team under coach Brewster. The previous coach did not leave this team with what is on it today. There were 31 players that left this team between Bresters first day and the beginning of this season. That is why the numbers are so screwed up and it is going to take time to get them right. Now we are going to give the coach a couple of more years to get his recruits in and prove that he is the one. I guess that is college football and it happens everywhere. I do not think we can win this one and we might get massacrered.
I wonder where NW and MSU’s recruiting classes ranked the last four years? The MI,OSU’s and PSU’s of the world will always have good players. You are kidding yourselves if you think you can out recruit those teams or the other top teams in the country. We all know that BSU, Hawii, and Utah would not be undefeated if they played in a BCS conference but yet they can field a team that on a given day could beat the best team in the country. Why is that? Football is a tough game and sometimes the ball bounces your way and sometimes it does not. You all will see that the coaches keep changing but the wins and loses do not. Bayfield, PSU has had the longest tenured coach in college football and that is why they do not lose players. First of all Joe Pa does not put up with the BS and secoundly the recruit charachter along with athletic ability. Michigan and OSU do the same along with NW. Yourpoint about how many we have in each class is not valid because it was not that way on day one of Brewsters tenure at MN. DAC, Gray will be a true freshman when he enrolls in the Spring. Hid clock did not start when he was denied admission this fall. He will have 5 and a half years to play 4 if he shows up in Jan.
Since Gray didn’t get in school, and will not enter until 2nd Semester, he did not get redshirted, therefore will be considered a true fr. next yr.
DAC,
I know you don’t like Webber, but next year the O-line will be much improved and our running game will be much better. With those two elements a lot better, Weber will put up BIG numbers next year.
If your smarter then Dunbar, then stop by his office and tell him you can’t tell a player we might reshirt you but be ready to jump in.
Correct Little, and I should have said when he shows up.
What I have not been able to find out is does he count back or do we have to count him foward. This makes a big difference in our numbers. If we can not count him back then we lose that slot forever. If he and Revees count back then we can fill two of the slots from last year. You only get 25 a year. We counted 3 back and signed 25. If a player does not make it in because of grades the people that I have talked to say the school loses that scholarship in the 25. This would hurt in our over all numbers because we are only playing with about 74 guys on scholarship this year and you can only sign 25 with no count backs bacause we filled up last year.
I actually agree with Wren here more than DAC. Gray has a long ways to go before he proves he’s better then Weber.
Dac is ready to throw Weber under the bus when Brewster has said he wouldn’t trade Adam for anyone. I guess DAC knows more then Brewster!
If you don’t get in school you don’t count that yr.
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